Mine is the same (except the bit about spinning tyres) which is normal I believe. As I understand it, work will be required down the track, but if the leak isn't too bad, the engine will be fine for a long while.

If your head gasket leaks you should not run the cooling system presurised until its replaced. failure to replace a simple gasket set of $120 could result in $1000 new head and installation, and possibly new engine. If the car is used any other than normal severe cracking of the head will spread and cause a sudden and extreme degradation of performance. motor could seize and then your rooted.

Hey boyz, you're sucessfull in making me worry my pants off!
What happens when the head gasket goes?? How would i know? I dont revv my engine past 3000rpm, will i still blow it?
If it blows, how much will it cost to replace?? *worried*

I thought that the leaking problem would get much worse before it blows. If the leak is very minor, it wouldn't be a problem. However, if anyone else has anything to add to this, I'd also be interested...

One of the great beauties of a head gasket going is that the first you might know about is when the car has real big problems because it's blown the coolant and the temp sender ain't surrounded by water so it ain't sending any warnings. So you can end up with a seized donk and/or warped head, and big dollars. Like someone else said, if it's leaking coolant it's a potential disaster. Get it looked at professionally if you're not sure.

I have an interesting story-recently my ive been losing a shitload of coolant, my gfs dad (professional mehcanic, has worked at a Ford dealership for ages) checked the car out, found some lose hoses and put a new radiator in. Still the problem persisted until i looked under the oil filler cap to find 'that' milky substance. Instantly i thought the head gasket was stuffed, or possibly something wrong with the head.

Anyways I had to wait a few weeks till my gfs dad could take a look at the car, during that time a mate of mine put in one of those blocks that disintegrate and seal holes into the cooling system. I took my car to my gfs dad this weekend, he couldnt find any signs of head gasket etc failure-he pressure tested the car, drained the oil checked for milky stuff and nothing.

Throughout all this the car has run fine (no harshness, apparently when the gasket goes the car loses power and runs really rough) so im gonna keep driving her around and see what happens. Any comments/Ideas? I dont know whats goin on!